Absurdities and Realities of Special Education
Collection Overview
Absurdities and Realities of Special Education: The University of Vermont Center for Digital Initiatives Collection is a complete set of all of the cartoons created by Michael Giangreco with the assistance of the artist Kevin Ruelle. This includes...
Show moreAbsurdities and Realities of Special Education: The University of Vermont Center for Digital Initiatives Collection is a complete set of all of the cartoons created by Michael Giangreco with the assistance of the artist Kevin Ruelle. This includes a total of 335 cartoons from four previously published books and searchable CD that went "out of print" in 2019 and a few newer cartoons. Michael Giangreco created the original ideas, text, and sketches for each cartoon and Kevin Ruelle redrew the sketches.
The cartoons in the first three books all were originally in black and white. That was a conscious decision, both for aesthetic and practical reasons. The cartoons were designed to be easily copied on to overhead transparencies for display in classes, workshops, and other learning environments. A group called Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) requested permission to use one of the cartoons on the cover of their magazine and subsequently colorized it. Prompted by Giangreco’s colleagues associated with ALLFIE, Giangreco and Ruelle began to colorize the rest of the images. In this complete digital collection, we have included a total of 335 different digital images; including the 315 different cartoons from the four earlier books, 12 cartoons that were on the CD only, and eight that were not included in any of the previously published books or CD.
Cartoons from the early books have found their way on to the pages of many newsletters disseminated by schools, parent groups, disability advocacy organizations, and professional associations. They have appeared in books, manuals, and journals; a few were even published in a law journal. The cartoons have been used extensively as projected slides or within learning activities in college classes, at conferences, in workshops, and at other meetings. Parents have framed cartoons that closely reflected their own experiences and hung them in their homes or offices. Other parents have used them in meetings with professionals to help get their points across. They have been given as gifts to people who "get it" and handed out as door prizes. The Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights used them as part of "Disability Awareness Day" at the Vermont legislature. The cartoons can be used in innumerable creative ways.
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(21 - 40 of 341)
Pages
- Title
- Atlas
- Date Created
- 2007
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a female paraprofessional in the classic Atlas pose, straining with great effort and strength to carry the world on her shoulders. On top of the world are 15 images of students meant to represent the range of diversity of students supported by paraprofessionals. The tag line...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a female paraprofessional in the classic Atlas pose, straining with great effort and strength to carry the world on her shoulders. On top of the world are 15 images of students meant to represent the range of diversity of students supported by paraprofessionals. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Can quality inclusive education be supported on the backs of paraprofessionals?"
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- Title
- Authentic Assessment
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a wall with signs across the top and sides. There is a salesman pointing to the signs behind a counter and a woman in the foreground. The sign across the top of the panel reads "Test Publishers Inc." On the left side of the panel a sign reads "Our Moto: 'We'll sell you what-ever...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a wall with signs across the top and sides. There is a salesman pointing to the signs behind a counter and a woman in the foreground. The sign across the top of the panel reads "Test Publishers Inc." On the left side of the panel a sign reads "Our Moto: 'We'll sell you what-ever you're willing to buy regardless of quality or utility'." Other signs read "Authentic Assessments," "Counterfeit Assessments," "Culturally Biased Assessments," "Hypothetical Assessments," "Make-Believe Assessments," and "Verified, But Useless Assessments." The woman asks the salesman "What kind of assessment tools do you carry?" The salesman says, "We carry a full range!" The tag line reads, "Authentic Assessments: Consider the Alternatives."
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- Title
- Backward Day
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels offset stepwise. The upper panel shows a classroom scene where a paraprofessional who is standing directly behind a student seated in a wheelchair says to the classroom teacher, "Mark should stay inside after lunch. By the time I get his coat on recess will be over."...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels offset stepwise. The upper panel shows a classroom scene where a paraprofessional who is standing directly behind a student seated in a wheelchair says to the classroom teacher, "Mark should stay inside after lunch. By the time I get his coat on recess will be over." The teacher responds, "That seems reasonable." A classmate who overhears says to the adults, "What if we just put his coat on backwards?" Another classmate says, "That would look weird." In the lower panel, the first classmate says, "Not if everyone wore their coat backwards." as the entire class surrounds their classmate seated in the wheelchair in solidarity by all wearing their coats backwards. The tag line reads, "Mrs. Basil's class invents Backwards Day at school."
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- Title
- Balancing Act
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows scales. The top bar of the scales says, "Quality Education" the scale on the left says, "Academic/Functional" and the one on the right says, "Social/Personal." There are gold coins on each scale and there is a hand coming down from the top of the panel with another coin to place...
Show moreThe cartoon shows scales. The top bar of the scales says, "Quality Education" the scale on the left says, "Academic/Functional" and the one on the right says, "Social/Personal." There are gold coins on each scale and there is a hand coming down from the top of the panel with another coin to place in one of the scales. The tag line reads, "It's a balancing act!"
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- Title
- Band-Aid Approach
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a woman with short blonde hair and purple dress on the left side of the panel. She is a teacher. She is holding a green binder talking to a person-sized Band-Aid who is a paraprofessional. The teacher says, "Here's the deal: we've got lots of kids, too many who need extra help,...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a woman with short blonde hair and purple dress on the left side of the panel. She is a teacher. She is holding a green binder talking to a person-sized Band-Aid who is a paraprofessional. The teacher says, "Here's the deal: we've got lots of kids, too many who need extra help, too much paperwork, not enough planning time, and extensive staff development needs. Thank goodness you're here! Our problems are solved!" The Band-Aid responds, "I'll do what I can, but I can only do so much." The tag line reads, "Band-Aid Approach: Are we expecting too much of instructional assistants?"
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- Title
- BeFORE and After
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The top panel shows a teacher sitting in a chair holding a 1-10 number line and point the number 7. He says, "Children, we're going to practice numbers that come BEFORE and AFTER other numbers. OK. What number is this?" A student replies "7." In the...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The top panel shows a teacher sitting in a chair holding a 1-10 number line and point the number 7. He says, "Children, we're going to practice numbers that come BEFORE and AFTER other numbers. OK. What number is this?" A student replies "7." In the lower frame with the same image the teacher says, "Good. What number comes beFORE this number?" The student says, "B3?" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Mr. Green's students experience Cue Confusion."
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- Title
- Bending Over Backwards
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a classroom teacher and a student at a desk. The teacher is doing a back bend and pointing at the students work. The teacher says "Nice work Melanie!" and the Melanie says "Thanks for your help Mrs. V." The tag line reads "Mrs. V. is the kind of classroom teacher who bends over...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a classroom teacher and a student at a desk. The teacher is doing a back bend and pointing at the students work. The teacher says "Nice work Melanie!" and the Melanie says "Thanks for your help Mrs. V." The tag line reads "Mrs. V. is the kind of classroom teacher who bends over backwards for all of her students."
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- Title
- Best Instructors in 2nd Grade
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon shows two teachers in the foreground talking to each other while two students are interacting in the background. One teacher asks the other, "What graduate course did you take to learn so much about teaching students with disabilities?" As the teacher motions toward the two students,...
Show moreThis cartoon shows two teachers in the foreground talking to each other while two students are interacting in the background. One teacher asks the other, "What graduate course did you take to learn so much about teaching students with disabilities?" As the teacher motions toward the two students, the student without disabilities says to her classmate with a disability, "Now you try it!" as teacher says to her colleague, "Well... I can introduce to one of my professors." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Mrs. Hope found some of her best instructors were still in second grade."
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- Title
- Bill of Goods
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a teacher in the doorway of her classroom looking perplexed. In the hallway speaking to her is a man holding a large poster which says, "1. General Education Teachers can't teach students with disabilities. 2. You only have to be a host. 3. Everybody else is an expert." There...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a teacher in the doorway of her classroom looking perplexed. In the hallway speaking to her is a man holding a large poster which says, "1. General Education Teachers can't teach students with disabilities. 2. You only have to be a host. 3. Everybody else is an expert." There are other items listed that are not readable. The man says to the teacher, "Excuse me Ma'am, you were sold a bill of goods. I am sorry to have to inform you that it has been recalled." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After being sold a bill of goods, Mrs. Martin is surprised to learn it's defective."
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- Title
- Black Hole
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a spaceship out in deep space heading for a black Hole. There is a sign on the edge of the Black Hole that reads, "Welcome to the Black Hole of Special Education." Someone on the spaceship says, "Captain, I've heard tales. But I thought they were myths!" To which the Captain...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a spaceship out in deep space heading for a black Hole. There is a sign on the edge of the Black Hole that reads, "Welcome to the Black Hole of Special Education." Someone on the spaceship says, "Captain, I've heard tales. But I thought they were myths!" To which the Captain replies, "Apparently not! Engineering, reverse thrusters Full Power!" The tag line reads, "Boldly not going where too many others have gone before!"
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- Title
- Book Club
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a group of people sitting around in a living room having tea there is a cat sitting on the coffee table. One of the women sitting on the couch says "This month's book club selection is controversial and quite revealing. Some of you might even find it shocking." The tag line...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a group of people sitting around in a living room having tea there is a cat sitting on the coffee table. One of the women sitting on the couch says "This month's book club selection is controversial and quite revealing. Some of you might even find it shocking." The tag line reads "Club members prepare to read 'Everything you always wanted to know about special education but were afraid to ask.'"
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- Title
- Born to be Filed
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a bearded biker wearing a black leather jacket with a skull and crossbones on the back sitting on his motorcycle while placing a file folder in a file cabinet. One file says, "No one's ever going to see us again are they?" Another file folder replies, "Nope!" In the background...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a bearded biker wearing a black leather jacket with a skull and crossbones on the back sitting on his motorcycle while placing a file folder in a file cabinet. One file says, "No one's ever going to see us again are they?" Another file folder replies, "Nope!" In the background a rock band consisting of two guitar players and a drummer are signing to the melody of Steppenwolf's Born to be Wild, although the words have been changed to: "Get your motor runnin'. Head out on the highway. Lookin' for adventure in whatever comes our way. BORN TO BE FILED!" The tag line reads, "Teammates engage in their annual pot-IEP completion ritual."
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- Title
- Bridging the Gap
- Date Created
- 2010-2013
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a bridge under construction spanning a river. There are completed parts from both sides of the river, one labeled "Research" and the other labeled "Practices in Schools." The middle section is open, not yet completed. A crane is lifting the connecting piece into place, labeled ...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a bridge under construction spanning a river. There are completed parts from both sides of the river, one labeled "Research" and the other labeled "Practices in Schools." The middle section is open, not yet completed. A crane is lifting the connecting piece into place, labeled "Service Delivery." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Bridging the Gap."
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- Title
- Building Blocks
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoons shows a Baby playing with large blocks, building a tower. The blocks have large letters on them, each with a word that begins with the corresponding letter. At the base of the tower, block "A" the word is for "Accountability" and "B" is "Belonging." The next layer of the tower "C" is...
Show moreThe cartoons shows a Baby playing with large blocks, building a tower. The blocks have large letters on them, each with a word that begins with the corresponding letter. At the base of the tower, block "A" the word is for "Accountability" and "B" is "Belonging." The next layer of the tower "C" is "Collaboration" and D and is "Determination." The third layer has the block "E" for "Equity and the is placing the block," F for "Fun" on the top. The tag line reads, "Building Blocks of Teamwork."
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- Title
- Burning Questions
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a paraprofessional looking distraught while holding some papers that are on fire and creating smoke. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Unfortunately, the teacher assistant's burning questions kept spontaneously combusting before they could be answered."
- Title
- Cadaver Lab
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a physician and a physical therapy student dressed in medical scrubs standing on the far side table where a cadaver with the lower legs showing is on a table. On the near side of the table are two school psychology students dressed in street clothes and holding clip boards and...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a physician and a physical therapy student dressed in medical scrubs standing on the far side table where a cadaver with the lower legs showing is on a table. On the near side of the table are two school psychology students dressed in street clothes and holding clip boards and pencils. The physician says to the physical therapy student, "OK, now pull back the skin to expose the quadricep." One school psychology student asks, "How do I score that?" The other student says about the cadaver, "He didn't give an incorrect response -- give him 2 points. That puts him in the range of moderate to severe intellectual disability." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "In the cadaver lab, physical therapy and school psychology students work together in an experimental interdisciplinary training program."
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- Title
- Camp
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
This cartoon is in two panels stacked vertically. The images are exactly the same, depicting common summer camp activities. The only difference is how the activities are labeled. In the top panel labeled "Kid's Summer Camp." At this typical camp children have a Sing-A-Long, make Arts & Crafts, go...
Show moreThis cartoon is in two panels stacked vertically. The images are exactly the same, depicting common summer camp activities. The only difference is how the activities are labeled. In the top panel labeled "Kid's Summer Camp." At this typical camp children have a Sing-A-Long, make Arts & Crafts, go horseback riding, play sports, swim, have a nature hut , and make friends. An happy camper jumps in the in the air exclaiming "I love Camp!" In the lower panel these exact same activities are re-labeled: Music therapy, Art therapy, Horseback riding therapy, gross motor training, hydrotherapy, pet therapy, social skills training, and the exuberant camper, who is now labeled an "Engaged Student" exclaims "I Love Intervention!" The tag line reads, "Disability Lingo Goes To Camp."
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- Title
- Career Development
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon has three panels diagonally across from the bottom right to the top left in a stepwise arrangement. Starting at the bottom right corner the panels has three people following three rulers. The caption at the top of this frame is, "Following the rules" There is an arrow pointing to the...
Show moreThe cartoon has three panels diagonally across from the bottom right to the top left in a stepwise arrangement. Starting at the bottom right corner the panels has three people following three rulers. The caption at the top of this frame is, "Following the rules" There is an arrow pointing to the next (middle) panel. That panel shows a man with an angry face bending a ruler. The caption at the top of this panel says, "Bending the rules." and has an arrow pointing to the top left corner panel that shows an older man breaking a ruler. The caption says. "Breaking the rules" In the lower right side of the panel is written, "Stages of Career Development" The tag line reads, "How professionals respond to rules that don't make sense."
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- Title
- Cart Before the Horse
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a farmer scratching his head and looking confused as he looks at a draft horse hooked to a wagon the wrong way -- with the cart in front of the horse instead of behind it. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Harry persists in putting support services before educational goals...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a farmer scratching his head and looking confused as he looks at a draft horse hooked to a wagon the wrong way -- with the cart in front of the horse instead of behind it. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Harry persists in putting support services before educational goals and placement."
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- Title
- Cat and Mouse
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a school administrator wearing a cat mask sitting across the table from a mother of a child with a disability who is wearing Mickey Mouse ears. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After years of playing cat and mouse to develop an IEP, Casey's mother longs for a chance to be...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a school administrator wearing a cat mask sitting across the table from a mother of a child with a disability who is wearing Mickey Mouse ears. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After years of playing cat and mouse to develop an IEP, Casey's mother longs for a chance to be the cat for once!"
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